For almost three years, the Federation and the Klingon Empire, allied under the Khitomer Accords, have contended with the nascent coalition on a predominantly cold-war footing. But as Starfleet rebuilds itself, factions within the Typhon Pact grow restive, concerned about their own inability to develop a quantum slipstream drive to match that of the Federation. Will leaders such as UFP PresidentBacco and RSE PraetorKamemor bring about a lasting peace across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, or will the cold war between the two alliances deepen, and perhaps even lead to an all-out shooting war?

An attack on Utopia Planitia causes concern throughout the Alpha Quadrant, not least from Praetor Kamemor, who learns a Romulan ship took part in the operation without her knowledge. Sela convinces her the operation was ordered prior to them both taking office when in fact she was fully aware of it. When Kamemor uses Spock as an intermediary to arrange a meeting between the Khitomer Accord leaders and some of the Typhon Pact heads of state, Sela and Tomalak manipulate her into requesting both free trade and a joint mission of exploration.

Meanwhile, Kasidy Yates has Kira ask Sisko to renew his relationship with his daughter if not her. Sisko begins spending time with Rebecca and puts his divorce from Kasidy on hold even though they continue to live apart. Sarina resigns from Starfleet Intelligence and joins Deep Space 9's security staff. She reports to security chief Jefferson Blackmer that she overheard Rahendervakell th'Shant, one of the Andorians who chose to remain on the station, apparently plotting sabotage but no-one can corroborate the story. When Blackmer investigates them both alone, Ro becomes suspicious of him in turn but all three are cleared.

The Enterprise, which recently thwarted Tzenkethi attacks on Federation supply ships, is assigned to explore the Gamma Quadrant alongside a Romulan ship, the Eletrix. Spock, who has decided the Romulans can continue the Reunification Movement without him, accompanies them as a Federation liaison with Tomalak filling the same role for the Romulans.

Trok, the surviving member of the Breen slipstream research team, decides that Dominion ships would be more compatible with the drive than Breen ships but is unable to replicate the components, instead suggesting stealing manufacturing machines from a Dominion shipyard. Having entered the Gamma Quadrant under guise of being a civillian ship, the Breen vessel Ren Fejin attempts to raid the disused but guarded shipyard on Overne III. They contact Tomalak on the Eletrix for help and the Eletrix crew fake their ship's destruction and disrupt the Enterprise and the Robinson from communicating with Deep Space 9. The Ren Fejin crew are captured by Jem'Hadar but the Eletrix crew take Laas hostage and force the Jem'Hadar to let them leave with both the Ren Fejin and the equipment they need.

The Deep Space 9 crew discover a number of bombs planted in the reactor core and begin evacuating the station but, after experiencing a visions from the Prophets, Kira convinces Kasidy to stay on the station rather than leave on the Xhosa. The Defiant detects the cloaked Eletrix exiting the wormhole with the Ren Fejin and a second Breen ship and a Tzenkethi ship uncloak, sparking a battle. The Robinson exits the wormhole to witness the destruction of first the Xhosa and then Deep Space 9.

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